JOINT COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS debate -
Tuesday, 18 Dec 2007

Business of Joint Committee.

Chairman

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Apologies have been received from Deputies Andrews, Breen and McGrath. Deputy Timmins may attend later.

Since our last meeting I met the ambassador of Austria, Dr. Walter Hagg. The meeting took place at the request of the Austrian Embassy and a note on the meeting has been circulated to members. It was a very satisfactory meeting and there was a full and frank of exchange of views. The ambassador was anxious to be helpful in the context of the likely debate on the referendum on the EU reform treaty.

The next item on the agenda is a discussion of the European Commission Green Papers, The Future Common European Asylum System and Adapting to Climate Change in Europe. Until we have formed a position on these documents, we are obliged to discuss them in private session.

The joint committee went into private session at 2.40 p.m. and resumed in public session at 3.50 p.m.

Chairman

Are the minutes of the meeting of Tuesday, 11 December agreed? Agreed.

We have a number of items of correspondence. A copy of the correspondence from the Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia joint parliamentary committee has been circulated. Is it agreed to note this correspondence? Agreed.

No. 29 is a letter from the President of the European Parliament regarding the forthcoming meeting between the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament and national parliaments. The meeting will take place on 22 and 23 January in the European Parliament. It is proposed to refer the matter to the Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 30 is a letter from Mr. Anthony Coughlan, secretary of National Platform, regarding the Lisbon treaty. The joint committee has heard from Mr. Coughlan previously and will no doubt hear from him again. We hope to have two or three public hearings in January 2008. These could be held in a single week or over two weeks. We will try to negotiate with members to determine the optimum times to hold the hearings. I will return to the issue of legal opinion.

No. 31 is the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 14 December. Is it agreed to note the item? Agreed.

No. 32 is correspondence from the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny forwarding the list of proposals nominated by the joint committee for inclusion in the COSAC subsidiarity check to this committee for information. It is proposed to note the item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 33 is a list of proposed measures considered by the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny at its meeting on 13 December. It is proposed to note the measures. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 34 is correspondence from the Joint Committee on European Scrutiny forwarding the European Commission's 2008 annual legislative and work programme to the committee for consideration. The joint committee considered this document and incorporated a number of the broad policies identified by the Commission to be taken forward in 2008 when drawing up its work programme for the year ahead. It is proposed to note the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No. 35 is a letter from Mr. David Begg of ICTU on ICTU's attendance at a future meeting of the joint committee to discuss the Lisbon treaty. It is proposed to note the item. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The joint committee went into private session at 3.55 p.m. and adjourned at 4.05 p.m. sine die.